9 Weeks out from Kelowna 2012

  Well, as it stands, I am less than 9 weeks out from my first competition.  On May 19^th, I will be taking part in the first ever Men’s Physique category at the Western Canadians in Kelowna.  I think back to when I first began training and working towards my goal of getting in better shape.  If you had asked me in August of 2011 if I would ever consider competing in a Men’s Physique competition, I would have laughed.  Today I am deep into preparing for this show and I am fortunate to have my wife Grace taking the same journey with me, as she is preparing to compete in her first Bikini competition at this same show.

  In just over one month after beginning my Ripped Freak Training Program, I started to see results I didn’t think were possible, especially in such a short amount of time.  From what I remember, the first time I had the confidence in myself to wear a tank-top to a training session, Dean seemed to see the same results.  At this point, Dean presented me with a challenge, to work towards preparing for a photo shoot with Pink Elephant Photography at the end of October.  Without even thinking about it at the time, I agreed to take on the challenge.  I must say this was both extremely difficult and a very rewarding experience.  The intensity of training and focussed meal planning showed me just what my mind and body is truly capable of.  From doing this photo shoot, I then took a chance to submit one of my photos and personal story to Inside Fitness Magazine, with the hopes of being selected for the magazine’s Feb/March edition to highlight amazing transformations.  After a difficult three month wait for the release of the new issue of the magazine, I was extremely honored and thrilled to find that my submission was selected to be featured as one of the transformations.

   I now feel more focussed and committed than ever, to my meal planning, cardiovascular endurance and weight training.  One thing I have found a key to my success in staying focussed, is that I have not fallen into the traditional “off season” style of eating and training.  I am often asked by friends and co-workers for advice on ways to adjust their habits to eat healthier.  It feels good to be able to share some of my experiences with these friends to help them begin their own journey to improve their overall wellness.  I took it as such an amazing compliment, when a friend sent me a message to ask for advice on how to start on a path of living a healthier lifestyle and told me, “You’re a motivational force!”

  I look forward to share more insights with you and continue to share my ongoing journey of Transforming Wellness.

Thank you for reading!  Talk to you soon.

Andrew

Where did it all begin? ...

  Born and raised in North Vancouver, I grew up playing all kinds of sports competitively. My favourite sports were football, softball, soccer and basketball. Throughout my teen years, I was always very active and physically fit. As I approached high school graduation, my goal was to pursue a career as a Physical Education teacher.
  By the age of 19, I began working full time as a Restaurant Manager. Being a young person in a very challenging role, I devoted the majority of my time to my job. Shortly after beginning upon this career path, my health and fitness took a back seat in my life.
  At the age of 35, I found myself weighing in at 185 pounds, the heaviest weight of my life, in my worst physical condition and left feeling very self-conscious about myself. I also became very concerned over my health and wellness, as I am approaching the age at which my Dad passed away from his second heart attack. Being a husband to a beautiful wife and father to an incredible daughter, I was concerned with a similar fate as my father.
  Over the past several years, I have tried many different kinds of diets and used a range of “at home workout DVDs” (some with better results than others), but none that made a significant impact on my overall wellness.
  In August 2011, I found myself at a place in my life where I was serious about making a change in my life, to improve my health and fitness. Fortunately, I was able to find Dean and Leigh Brandt, of Body by Brandt. Having been so disappointed with my own results over the years, I had very small goals for my improvements. I began my training with Dean, hoping to lose about 10 pounds. In less than 3 months of Dean's Ripped Freak Training Program, I was able to achieve an incredible transformation of losing over 30 pounds. Dean's training has literally changed my life, as I find myself in the best shape of my life. I am happier, healthier and more focussed on wellness than I ever thought possible.
  The next stage in my Ripped Freak Training Program, is preparing for my first Male Physique Competition in May 2012. Keep posted here and my other social media for updates on my progress.

Thank you for your support!


Andrew